Review: Obsidian

Obsidian (Lux #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published November 29th, 2011 by Entangled Publishing

Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don't kill him first, that is.
-goodreads.com

Rating: 4.5 stars
Review:
I knew it. 

I KNEW it!

I just knew it was only a matter of time before I, too, joined the ever-growing Obsidian-loving cult because goshdarnit the book really is that good!!

This series focuses on a not-as-popular supernatural-ish entity.... ALIENS.  And good golly miss molly, if there are more aliens out there in the universe who look like Daemon Black, then please come visit Earth!!!! But that's for later on in the review, so let's continue before I enter into full-on fangirl mode. *calms self* 

Now Katy, the main character, doesn't know that Daemon and Dee are luxen, but as a reader, I already did, which kind of made the first quarter of the book a little boring because the whole time, I was just waiting and waiting and waiting for Kat to finally learn the truth! Once that happened, the book really "started" for me. The pace picked up, there was more action and fighting, and (my favorite) more learning about luxen! 

I really REALLY liked Armentrout's luxen because I don't think aliens have ever been handled this way. (Although I could be wrong because I haven't read many alien-oriented books...) The whole concept of light beings vs. dark beings was really interesting and their respective powers and abilities were super cool. Sorry ET, but I just don't think you're gonna cut it for me anymore...

The characters were all pretty great and I loved all of them--except for Ash and Andrew because they were pretty sour-faced every time they appeared in the novel.

Katy is freaking AWESOME! She is tough, selfless, hilarious, oh and did I mention she's a book blogger?! Yeah. Bonus points right there. I loved Katy. She never backed down from a challenge and she wasn't afraid to stand up to Daemon or the other luxen when they were being mean. However there were a few moments in the book when Katy pretty much just walked right into a blatantly obvious situation and I was pretty much screaming at her to come to her senses. Yeah, those moments were kind of annoying. But other than that, she was a fantastic character. 

...and OF COURSE, I couldn't conclude this review without mentioning the male protagonist of the series. The very swoon-worthy bad-boy err alien: Daemon Black! *Le sigh*

I will admit that when I first started Obsidian, I was a little iffy about Daemon. I mean, let's face it: he was kind of a jerk to Kat.

Confession time: I was starting to worry that there was something seriously wrong with me because I was not falling-to-the-ground-swooning at Daemon. 

BUT THEN! 

Then, I learned more about Daemon... like how much he loved his family, how protective he was of his family, how he grieved for his brother Dawson, how he worried that Kat's presence would harm his sister, and that worry was why he was so mean to Kat at first. And after that--after he started accepting Kat--well... Well. Let's just say that was when I did fall-to-the-ground-swoon at Daemon and all his hotness. I don't know what it is about YA guys that makes them attractive even when they're kinda arrogant.... but for Daemon, it totally works for him! Some of his one-liners were the most hilarious parts of the entire book! However, don't think that Daemon's all about toughness and arrogance because he has some seriously sweet moment. Just.... aww I'm having a little fangirl moment just thinking about it!

Bottom line: when I finished the book (and the Daemon's POV excerpts) I was like this....

Except just when things were getting super interesting.... Jennifer Armentrout decides to end the novel!!!!
And now, I am forced to wait agonizing months for the release of Onyx, though from what I've heard from people who've received ARCs, the sequel is 100x better than the first! can't wait!
Highly recommend this book!

Warning: prepare to swoon and squeal at alien hotness.

Review: Saving June

Saving June
by Hannah Harrington
Published May 1st 2011 by Harlequin Teen

‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.
-goodreads

Rating: 5/5 stars
Review:
Oh. My goodness.
To say that I loved this book would be a gross understatement. Argh! I can't even formulate into words just how much I fell in love with this book!

Have you ever had a book where, once you realize you're close to finishing, you actually dread the actual act of reading the last page?
 Yeah, that's me with regards to this book! I loved it so much I wished it would never end! Like one of those soap operas that go on forever. I really wouldn't mind that.
And THIS was me when I actually did finish...
(Okay, maybe a slight exaggeration--I actually didn't have any ice cream--but i was rather devastated)

This book was just so darn good! Great! Amazing! Fantastical!
I know that the premise of Saving June sounds quite depressing what with the dead sister and everything-- which, by the way, what is with all the dead sisters in YA lately?!--but really, there's is a lot of interspersed humor in this book, making it not a downright depressing read. This book is about death and suicide, but more than that it's about how people recover from that. To say that Saving June is an emotional roller coaster does not due the experience of reading it justice.

Harper Scott is officially my new favorite literary character.
She is full of imperfections. She's got a bad attitude at times, she's snarky and sarcastic, insecure because she feels like she can't measure up to her sister, isn't exactly coping well with said sister's death, and has a hard time feeling emotions. Absolutely cynical.

And that's why I adore her. She is clearly flawed, but so, so real. She is all those things I said above, but she's also incredibly strong and fiercely loyal and caring to people important to her. Plus, there's just something really honest about her narration--she really tells it like it is, no holds barred. (And personally, I loved the sarcasm and snark.)

Laney and Jake. God, I loved both of them so much as well! Give me a BFF like Laney, and I'll be set for life! She is truly the best friend that all girls wish they could have. She is so supportive and loving towards Harper throughout this whole ordeal, despite her own fair share of problems! And Jake? Heck yeah I would road trip with him! All the characters, really, are just so well-rounded and three-dimensional and real, like they could just jump off the pages! They each have their own issues, which you don't see at first, but then you get to know them and before you know it, you are just completely in love with all three of them.

And the ROMANCE! Good God, the romance.
I. Loved. Every. Moment.
I've also discovered that I actually really like those love-hate type of relationships--you know the ones, where the boy and girl bicker and argue constantly, always challenging each other and getting on each others' nerves. But then of course, they're only falling deeper and deeper in love with each argument ; ) 
Anyways, that pretty much describes Jake and Harper---but I think what I loved most was that there was not instalove! Thank you, Hannah Harrington! I honestly cannot stand that sort of instant boy-and-girl-lock-eyes-and-girl-becomes-obsessed/infatuated-because-of-an-indescribable-connection-and-the-boy-is-extremely-attractive sort of thing. Jake and Harper's relationship was natural, if not slightly uncommon, and the buildup was just great! Oh Jake. I am seriously swooning here...  

I enjoy YA novels of all kind (thought, admittedly much more if there's romance...) but it's YA novels like this that are my absolute favorite. Books that deal with tough contemporary themes--stuff like drugs and alcohol and death and messed up things that have happened, which may shock some readers--books that just really grip you and refuse to let go. I can't really explain them, but I just love novels like these. (Ex: Jellicoe Road)

And plus, this is a road trip novel. I mean, really, can it get any better?!

Subliminal Message: READ THIS BOOK. READ THIS BOOK. READ THIS BOOK. READ THIS BOOK. READ THIS BOOK.